Interpretation, Inheritance and Development of Regional Cultural Landscapes A Case of the New Hunan Provincial Museum ICR / CAMOC Joint Session, Brown 1 (South Wing) Wednesday, 6 July, 2016 Jianming CHEN Honorary Director of Hunan Provincial Museum 湖南省博物馆 I. What are our cultural landscape 1. Concept and Scope of Cultural Landscape Cultural landscape is a borrowed concept in China. Three elements: humans, time and space. American geographer C.O. Sauer: “cultural landscape refers to the synthesis of natural and human elements formed in any specific period to constitute regional features. It constantly changes with the impact of human activities.” The core of Human geographer is to interpret cultural landscape. 湖南省博物馆 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan Hunan Provincial Museum the most important art and history museum in Hunan area; located in the center of Changsha, total area of 49118.4m2. It borders the city central park one of the eight national key museums jointed developed by the national and local government 湖南省博物馆 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan First opened to the public in 1956 First rebuilding in 1999 湖南省博物馆 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan Second expansion in 2017 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan 湖南省博物馆 One Lake —— the Dongting Lake In the middle reach of the Yangtze River – fault depression of the Yanshan Orogeny in the Quatemary Period the earliest place of human cultivation rice in the world, the “mother lake” of Hunan 3,879 square kilometers 22 billion cubic meters of water 8,000-7,000 years ago, created an 11 cities in its periphery early human civilization based on the growth of rice. It formed the unique multi-ethnic culture of Hunan. 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan 湖南省博物馆 One World-Shocking Archaeological Discovery – Mawangdui 1972-1974 Changsha 3 Tombs female corpse 3000 gorgeous funeral objects win the title of “one of the major Chinese archaeological discoveries of the 20th century” Tomb 2 Xin Zhui: licang’s wife Tomb 3: licang’s son 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan 湖南省博物馆 One World-Shocking Archaeological Discovery – Mawangdui 700 shiny lacquer vessels represented the highest achievement of ancient Chinese The seemingly newly-made dresses and embroidered fabrics proved that China was the “silk country” The female corpse was a sheer 100 books copied on silK and bamboo slips on silk archaeological miracle formed “underground library of 2,100 years ago” 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan 湖南省博物馆 The Origin of Rice Cultivation – Yuchanyan (Fu Yuliang) Discovered in 1993 1995 It is the most primitive ancient cultivated rice strain developed from wild rice in the sense that it has the comprehensive characteristics of wild rice, long-grained nonglutinous rice and round-grained nonglutinous rice. black rice husks grayish yellow rice grains “Yuchanyan ancient cultivated rice” These carbonized rice grains excavated from the Yuchanyan site in Dao County some 12,000 years ago are the earliest cultivated rice discovered in the whole world so far!! 2. The Unique Cultural Landscape of Hunan 湖南省博物馆 The Odyssey of One Bronze – Square Bronze Lei Inscribed with Characters “Min” Separated: 1919 the body and lid were separated for one century. Traveled: 1956 The lid collected by our museum The body collected by Japanese and French collectors. 2001 9.246 million US dollars at the New York Christie’s auction Bought： 2014 raise fund from the whole country 湖南省博物馆 The Odyssey of One Bronze – Square Bronze Lei Inscribed with Characters “Min” Return：2016.6.12 the handover ceremony was held at the RocKefeller Center of New York. Hunan TV Channel did a global live broadcast. Future: 2017 continue to tell the story of this bronze to our generations 湖南省博物馆 II. What we have done for Cultural Landscape before 1. Building the Brand of “Mawangdui” 湖南省博物馆 2. Major Regional Tourist Attraction: as a Window into the Local Cultural Landscape Have Keeping close cooperation with major travel agents In 2011, visitors to our museum was 1.36 million: 13.7% from abroad 61.9% from other provinces 24.4% from Hunan Province 湖南省博物馆 3. Bringing exhibitions from home and abroad: Improving public perception towards different regional cultural landscapes Local Exhibition 2015 “Art Changsha” The Beauty of Silver: Clothes of “Miao” nationality Calligraphy world of Master He Shaoji Phoenix Flying in the Sky: Cultural Relics of the Chu State 湖南省博物馆 3. Bringing exhibitions from home and abroad: Improving public perception towards different regional cultural landscapes Global Exhibition First Americans: Tribal Art from North America Exhibition of European Glass Artworks American Car Culture in Photography Light and Shadows: From the Academic to Impressionism: The Oil Painting of Tuscany, Italy 1850-1950 Master Pieces of 19th Century European Paintings at the Pérez Simon Collection 湖南省博物馆 4. The Wind Vane Leading City Culture 2008 In the “Grand Ceremony of Fashion, Changsha,2008” co-sponsored by main medias in Hunan, Hunan Provincial Museum was awarded “Special Contribution Prize of fashion, 2008”. Awarded words: “Hunan Provincial Museum is the leader and initiate of aesthetic taste In Changsha. She let the normal citizens feel the beauty of the world closely. She is always the compass of the fashion, to the past and the future.” 湖南省博物馆 III. Further Continuity and Creation of Cultural Landscape Shown by the New Museum 湖南省博物馆 III. Further Continuity and Creation of Cultural Landscape Shown by the New Museum 1. The Orientation and Objective of the New Museum become a national key museum that represents China’s regional civilization a showcase of the history and culture of Hunan a public service center that provides elegant culture and art A cultural landmark of Changsha City the level of an international advanced museum collection conservation, exhibition education will be radically improved The annual visitor will rise from 1.4 million to 3 million the area of exhibition will be 24,538㎡, 4 times enlarge! 湖南省博物馆 III. Further Continuity and Creation of Cultural Landscape Shown by the New Museum Exhibition Information List of the new museum Name Area（㎡） Describe The collection unearthed from Mawangdui Han Mawangdui Han Tombs 8266 Tombs and the civilization of Western Han Dynasty Hunan People Exhibition 6370 Ancient Regional civilization of Hunan area Bronze Exhibition 568 Ancient Bronze Ceramic and Porcelain 593 Culture of Ceramic and Porcelain Exhibition Painting Exhibition 1090 Ancient painting arts Craftart Exhibition 734 Ancient Craft arts Let Kids Know about the world through discovering Children’s Museum 889 nature and life Temporary Exhibition Hall 6028 Hold different Kinds of temporary exhibition Total area 24538 湖南省博物馆 2. The Design of the New Museum: Deliberately Incorporating the Concept of Cultural Landscape ding as the design element - we are both the display center and representative of Hunan culture; The top of the new museum is liKe the crystalline of water, symbolizing the solidification of water of the Dongting Lake as well as Hunan culture. It represents the dialogue between the Dongting Lake culture and the society; We hope it will become the cultural landmark of this city. 湖南省博物馆 3. New Architecture: Showing the Cultural Landscape through Details Landscape of Public Space: Design of Entrance Square (Five Chinese Elements Theory) Landscape of Public Space: Design of Entrance Square more friendly to communicate 湖南省博物馆 Landscape of Public Space: Design of Waterscape and Sculpture local cultures of Hunan, means peace, harmony, reunion and safety. The mountain rock shape of lighting expresses the artifacts from the early ancient time. 湖南省博物馆 Landscape of Public Space: rest platform The restaurant can overlook the beautiful natural landscape in Central Park Natural Landscape in Museum With different themes, audience will walK in a wide public space while experiencing the natural landscape of Hunan. 湖南省博物馆 Landscape Planting: Red Maple Garden, Fragrance Garden, Camphor Garden… 湖南省博物馆 Different Trees and Flowers Temporary Exhibition Hall There is no any column in the Big Hall: 1600m2, with the height of 11m whole area, which can hold any Small Hall: 1300m2, with the height of 6.8m exhibition of any types and size. 4. New Permanent Exhibitions 湖南省博物馆 “Hunan People ”: Display of History and Cultures in Hunan Area the view of cultural anthropology interaction between humans and nature Museological language first person narrative history and culture in Hunan organized by introducing Hunan people from past to now regional civilization development 4. New Permanent Exhibitions 湖南省博物馆 “Hunan People ”: Display of History and Cultures in Hunan Area Homeland: What Kind of place is it? Where I came from: What is the origin of Hunan people? A place of Fish and Rice: How do they acquire the living resource? Footprints of life: What are the features of their life and customs? Spirit of Hunan: What are their characteristics? 湖南省博物馆 Homeland: Natural Environment Where I came from? 瑶族 苗族 侗族 Different Dialects 土家族 湖南省博物馆 A place of Fish and Rice: The Origin of Rice Cultivation 湖南省博物馆 Footprints of life: Water Well in Han Dynasty The Traditional Old House for their Clans Living Walking Path in 220 - 420 CE Dinner in Chinese New Year Traditional Opera Stage 湖南省博物馆 Footprints of life: Custom Wedding Room 湖南省博物馆 Cultural Relics from the Mawangdui Han Tombs our “Cultural Brand” : can be compared with the Tutankhamen Tomb in Egypt We will renovate the whole display, including space expansion, content adjustment and